OUTGOING EAC BOSS DEFENDS HIMSELF ON COST MEASURES

OUTGOING East African Community (EAC) secretary general  has defended his cost cutting measures, saying they saved the body from imminent collapse.

Liberat Mfumukeko, whose tenure ends on April 25th, said he was a victim of slander from the EAC staff because of the reforms he initiated.

The cost cutting measures focussed on the travel expenses for the staff and sponsored delegates, which consumed a significant portion of the  budgets. 

He told last Saturday's summit of the EAC Heads of State, in which his successor was named,that criticisms often levelled against him were unfounded. 

"I introduced reforms to reduce wastage and improve efficiency. Somewhat, we have been successful", he said at the 21st Ordinary Summit held virtually.

According to Ambassador Mfumukeko, through the reforms against misuse of funds, the EAC managed to reduce travel expenses by 40 per cent.

The travel expenses dropped sharply because of the tough financial controls which, among other things, minimized the meetings. 

"It was not an easy task. There was a lot of noise about this but I did not regret anything", he pointed out. 

The tough talking SG, who has two months before he finally exits, added that despite the criticisms, EAC got  clean audit reports for the measures he initiated.

He cited the audit reports for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 financial years which, he said,  received a clean bill of health from the auditors.

"We also got strong support from the development partners", he said, noting that this led to increased flow of funds from traditional donors.

At least $3.1 billion has lately been secured as grants and loans from the African Development Bank (AfDB), USAID East Africa and Germany through GIZ and KFW. 

Other donors who maintained their support to the EAC were the World Bank, the European Union, China, the United Nations, the Nordic countries and others. 

He said despite the challenges, EAC has made notable progress in implementation of infrastructure development projects such as intra-regional roads.

Implementation of projects still on the drawing board would commence soon, one of them being the Bagamoyo-Tanga-Mombasa-Malindi road. 

Mfumukeko, a Burundi national, was appointed EAC secretary general in April 2016 at a time the Community had started to feel the heat of extravagant travel expenses. 

At that time, the regional body organized about 800 meetings each year, costing a staggering $ 12million of the taxpayers' money. 

He admitted that he faced resistance with his measures but within a year at the helm of EAC, travel expenses were  reduced by $ 8million. 

During 2015/2016 fiscal year, the expenditure on air travel for EAC staff and sponsored delegates amounted to $19million. 

The figure dropped to $11million in the following financial year (2016/2017), a reduction of $ 8million and further decrease in subsequent years. 

The summit discussed  the stalled EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), regretting that the six partner states differed on it.

It concluded that countries which wished to move forward with the trade arrangement "to commence engagements with the EU". 

The engagement, the regional leaders insisted, should be undertaken "with a  view to starting implementation under the principle of variable geometry". 

Other highlights of the virtual summit was the swearing in of Justice Nestar Kayobera from Burundi as the President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

He would be assisted by Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire as vice president.

The other judges sworn in were Justice Yohane Masara Principal Judge from Tanzania,Justice Audace Ngiye Deputy Principal Judge and Lady Justice Anita Mugeni Judge Appellate Division from  Rwanda.

Others wereJustice Kathurima M'noti Judge Appellate Division from ( Kenya) ,Justice Richard Wabwire Wejuli Judge First Instance Division (Uganda) and Justice Richard Muhumuza Judge First Instance Division from Rwanda.